LOSING IT - WEIGHT THAT IS!!
The ramblings of a 59 year old former addict, compulsive overeater,
and former runner who is striving to become healthy despite my numerous illnesses including fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, pernicious anemia, anxiety, depression and chronic fatigue. I would love to have you join me on my adventure!

MY WEIGHT LOSS PROGRESS

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Finally! I have found time to post about my second half marathon. First off - it was blazing HOT!!!! When we left my daughter's house at 5:20 AM it was already 80 degrees! The race started at 6 AM. My daughter and my friend Linda ran the 5K and my son ran the half with me. Here we are before the race stated.Here is me and my son at the start of the race. I look pretty happy and I was! I was so excited to have my son run beside me. He was such as inspiration!The route was beautiful. We had a little bit of everything. There was nice neighborhoods with pretty houses, there was pastures with horses, there were several small lakes or ponds. There was lots of shade and lots of sun. A few rolling hills and some flat land. It was a really beautiful run and I would love to do it again. At one point we tired to run through someone's yard sprinkler but just as we got there it turned the other way and I did not want to run on their lawn so I missed that cool down. Someone said the humidity was around 97%. Wow! I did fine until about mile 11 and then I got real tired and started hurting. I don't believe I could have gone any more than 13 so the thought of a whole marathon is out of the question. At about mile 11 we came upon some music and that gave me a little boost of energy. My son and I took Gu at mile 3, 5, 7 and 11. Not sure the Gu helped much at mile 11 because I was spent!I have been diagnosed with exercise induced asthma and my son was concerned about me and he kept asking if I was okay. But I was fine. I told him that he did not need to worry unless he saw me on the ground. Other than that I was okay. At mile 12.5 I had to use my inhaler. Was feeling a little winded. I was really emotional too because of it being the 9th anniversary of my dad's death. In my mind I was thinking of him and how proud he would be of me. If he were here he would be at that finish waiting on me no matter how hot it was.I thought about taking pictures but I did not want to run with my camera and I wanted to PR so I did not stop to take any pictures with my cell phone. At the water stops the water was almost hot! I wasn't too happy with that but there was no way it could anything other than hot on this day. At least we had the water. At about mile 7 water stop they had ICE WATER! Yippee!!! It was wonderful! It felt so good going down that I felt like I would actually make it to the finish line. I poured the leftover ice down my sports bra but it melted quick!When we crossed the finish I was in agony. My family yelled at me and I tried to smile for them. Actually in this picture of me and my son I look pretty happy and I was but I was hurting too. This is right before the finish line. I think I was smiling because I was so relieved to be almost finished.Here is what I really felt like......But it was a great race and I would do again. I hear they are thinking of moving it to April next year. June was just too hot for everyone. Several people could not finish. I saw one lady being carried in on a golf cart. Her head was down and I know she was probably heartbroken. I would have been.My ankle did fine. I had it wrapped and it only hurt a few times.When I crossed the finish line my son and I went over to the big water fountain at the front of the mall. That helped to cool us off. My dear husband keep filling up my water bottle and pouring it over my head and neck. I felt my throat closing up and I thought, "oh no - not now!" But I took a few deep breaths and tried to relax. I used my inhaler one more time. After I cooled down I was okay. I think it was the heat and my emotions in combination but it didn't last long.

My daughter running

My daughter at finish line on the leftLinda at finish lineOne more of me and my sonOh and I almost forgot: My official time was 3:25:08 almost 15 MINUTES FASTER than my first half. How cool is that? And what made it so special was my son running beside me and my daughter being there as well. I am so proud of them and of myself! I never dreamed this would become a "family affair" but I am so glad it has! My two children are so wonderful and I owe them so much for all the years that had to put up with my drinking and crazy behavior. Praise the Lord I am not the same person today! God is good. Life is good.MAKE it a great day friends.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

I finally made it back to spin class. My ankle is still swollen and a little painful. It was fine during my half marathon on June 12 with just a little pain. It is hurting a bit now after spinning.

It has been so freaking hot here. Humidity today is 97%. But I have been able to walk with friends on Sun. and Mon. I am slowing getting back on track.

I get so tired of losing and gaining the same 5 pounds! Looks like I would do something about it! But I will keep trudging along. One day at a time. After all, life is about the journey not the destination.

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Not much to report today. I still have not blogged about my last half. I wanted to wait till I got my pictures so I could add them too.

Since my last half a week ago I have only ran one time for 3 miles. I have been eating anything and everything!! NOT good! I must refocus and get my priorities right.
I had a personal tragedy this past week And I suppose I have been using food for comfort. Not surprising since I have done that all my life. But I thought I was further along. I think I am back to square one. When I first started OA in January I was on a pink cloud and doing great! That didn't last long. Now I have to get serious again and do what I know to do. It's so sad that I know what to do and yet don't do it. Is that the definition of insanity? In OA we say "it works and I'm worth it" I know I am worth it! I just need to start acting like it. MAKE it a great day!
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Check out my blog: http://bettyhogue.blogspot.com/

"The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start." - John Bingham,

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Wow! I can't believe my second half is almost here! How exciting! It's THIS SATURDAY, June 12th. My son will be running with me so it will be DOUBLE FUN! Woohoo! My daughter will be doing the 5K so she will be at the finish line waiting on us. I am a little nervous but not as much as my first one. I've got the mental part down pat! I know I can do it because I have done it before. I just have to remember to take it slow in the beginning. It is so tempting to want to run with everyone else even though they are skinnier, younger, and faster!!! Ha! But I know my limits and all I want to do is finish standing up! I do hope to PR but if I don't, it won't hurt my feelings. Just to be able to do it at all is a great acomplishment for me.!! It will be a special moment when my son and I cross the finish line and when my daughter meets us there.

I am so proud of my children. I put them through so much when I was drinking and drugging. I am so blessed for them to have growh into caring, responsible adults. I praise God for ALL my blessings and there are many!

I have started my checklist of things to take with me. I always have this fear of forgetting something....like running shoes maybe...he he... Lord help me if that every happened. I did my spin class this morning and got a twinge of "something" in my calf, the same one that I tore the calf muscle in last year. Oh no! So I am going to take it slow this week. I was going to do my usual workout routine for the week but have decided against it. I may do some walking with friends. Or if I run I will only do a mile or so. Just something to keep my legs loose but not enought to cause an injury.

This race course has some rolling hills so it is going to be tough but I can do it! And the medal is beautiful, as is the T-shirt. I can't wait to get mine. Also they are giving away $1,000 to five lucky people. The race starts at 6 am. The drawing will be at 10 and you have to be present to win so I told my son we would have to be finished by 10 so I could collect my money.....ha ha ....!!

I know we will have great fun and I am so excited. I just hope I don't get lazy like I did after my last half. But then again, I probably won't because Galloway training for the St. Jude Half is starting up soon and I am doing that one again too. No rest for the weary!

On an awesome, awesome note......I have recruited another lady to run. And she might be my speed. Yippee! I am so excited. I need another penguin to waddle run along beside me. :) Plus I LOVE encouraging people. When she asked me about the program I think I talked for an hour straight about it. But I know that if I can do it-anyone can. They just need a little encouragement like I did. After being a cough potato ALL my life, it is hard to explain the feeling I have when I run. Every time I run I am doing something I NEVER THOUGHT I COULD DO! That feeling of acomplishment is glorious......mind boggling....almost too good to be true-so I pinch myself sometimes. he he.... God is so good. When I called to him he answered me and he rescued me from my life of bondage to drugs and alcohol. Little did I know that 18 years later I would be competing in my second half marathon. On the season of The Biggest Loser when they did the very first marathon I cried and cried when they crossed the finish line because I was in training for my first half at that time. I recorded the episode and played it over and over. It gave me great encouragement and the courage that I, too, could finish and finish strong. And that is just what I did.

I am still amazed sometimes at how my life has turned out. And it's not over yet! Praise God!